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The Dept. of Labor recently released the latest Employment Cost Index data, a periodic breakdown of salary and benefit costs to employers. From June to September, benefits costs rose 0.7%. In private industry, benefit costsincreased 2.4 percent, less than the increase for state and local government, which…
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama (D) was elected the nation's 44th president by a decisive margin yesterday, winning 349 electoral votes to Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) 162.
The IRS is waiving 2008 Code Y reporting for deferred compensation under 409A nonqualified deferred compensation plans, citing a need to figure out "how to calculate the amount that would be included in income." While they calculate, take a breather.
Listen to Mike Thompson, a principal at PricewaterhouseCoopers, talk about the present and future trends in retiree health benefits. He discusses ways to make these benefits more sustainable for employers.
It´s no secret that missing workers cost companies millions of dollars in lost revenue each year. But exactly how much does the combined cost of absenteeism affect your business?
Leaving no stone unturned in the nation's effort to reduce the burden of gas prices and the downward economy, a little-known provision in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (aka, the $700 billion bailout law) allows employers to provide $20 a month in commuter benefits for employees that bike to…
What do small businesses plan to do during open enrollment this year? Our new Web-only piece from SMB-HR gives you the scoop.
Get a handle on diabetes costs. Two new studies on diabetes reveal the number of Americans with the disease spent $12.5 billion last year on drugs to manage it, and that although newer, more costly medications are driving the spending surge metformin (an inexpensive, reliable generic) may be more effective…
Hear what Kelley Butler has to say about the November issue.
The Employee Benefits Security Administration recently released final regulations that amend existing distribution requirements for defined contribution plans to allow rollovers into inherited IRAs for missing nonspouse beneficiaries. Effective Nov. 6, the rules clarify certain provisions of the Pension…
People need to read the candidates positions more carefully. I believe anymore that we are all lazy and don't take the time to really understand the actual plans. McCain will tax benefits. On the otherhand he will give a tax credit for the purchase of healthcare. The problem is that the credit is not…
It might be time to amend your dependent eligibility requirements. A new law signed by Pres. Bush this month amends the federal definition of a "qualifying child" for tax purposes, and also is largely used for employers' health and dependent care plans.
McCain's health plan taxes employer provided healthcare benefits for the first time in history and to offset those higher taxes provides a tax credit.
In the current issue of the journal Health Affairs, a study reports on the response of Massachusetts employers and employees to the first year of the state's controversial health reform law, which largely mandated coverage for Bay State residents.
We should not be worried about John McCain's recommendation to tax benefits. With Congress being predominiately democrats, they are going to have their own agenda for healthcare reform. What I am worried about is the Obama platform of health care for all. While we certainly need to revamp the healthcare…
I thought McCain wanted to give a tax credit? I know they keep saying he is going to tax the benefit however every time I have heard him speak he talks about a tax credit. Are you being a little one sided on this issue?
Although a recent staff discussion at EBN headquarters questioned whether an automaker (with industry profits down more than 30% by some estimates) halting 401(k) contributions was a "big deal" — since it comes as no surprise to our jaded ears — here you have it:
Prepare now to meet the requirements of "Michelle's Law." Signed on Oct. 9 by Pres. Bush, the act requires health plans to allow college students who take a leave of absence or reduce their class load because of illness to remain dependents under their parents´ health plan. Ill students may keep their…
People always say they don't know what they'd do in a desperate situation until actually placed into it. Today's economic crisis is no exception. A new survey by Randstad USA shows that almost three in four employees would go to lengths to protect their jobs.